Illeocecal valve.

I recently attended a class to become certified as a Colon Hydrotherapist. One of the points made is that the Illeocecal valve should be closed before introducing water into the colon. If the valve is open, it can cause illness marked by nausea and vomiting. The method is massage applied to the abdominal area on a line between the right hip and umbilicus before starting an enema. The instruction was to press and message from just above the line to just below it.

Do any of our members have further comments or instructions?

It would also be interesting to know if anyone had experienced nausea or vomiting where they didn't follow this procedure. In a similar vein, I did read a piece by a certain"Rubber Duck" who said that passing water past the pyloric valve would lead to instant vomiting.

I have intentionally left the Illeocecal valve open then put in about six or seven quarts. It all went out of my mouth and into the toilet.

I routinely get water up into my small intestine, through my ileo-cecal valve. I really enjoy the sensation. My small frame can't hold much more than two liters in my colon, and anything beyond that volume goes past the ileo-cecal valve into my small intestine. If I clean my colon out beforehand, a nice silicon colon tube will easily slide up to the valve's opening and make it easy to get the water up there. It usually takes more than four liters to trigger nausea in me.

Also, for retention fun sometimes I like to use the colon tube to flow in about two liters way up high through the valve. I find it easier to hold water for any length of time when most of it is in my small intestine rather than in my colon.

I think I managed to accomplish something similar this morning. I've got a bit of a head cold, and for some reason that always seems to get me a bit stopped up. I decided I needed to clean myself out - this was probably the first time I actually used enemas for a vaguely medical reason instead of just pure pleasure!

After a small initial flush, I went for the big one. My maximum is usually just 2 quarts, I'm not that big and it's more than enough to fill me up. Today, though, I found it went in easily. There was hardly any cramping - maybe because my gut seems to get a bit lazy when I'm under the weather - and just the growing fullness. I used diamond's method of standing up, back arched and relaxing my belly.

Then, to my surprise, even the fullness mostly dissipated as the bag emptied. I suspected the water had worked its way deeper into me, taking the pressure off my colon. I lightly rubbed my belly, and jiggled it around from side to side and up and down as I stood there. After no more than a few gentle twitches of protest from inside my stomach, it completely relaxed. I felt like I had hardly any water in me.

While I could have tried retaining it, I didn't want to pass up this opportunity, and refilled the bag just to see how much more I could take. I let it flow in quickly as I stood, wanting to take as much as I could while my belly would allow it. To my surprise, I was able to drain the bag yet again, with only a moderate amount of fullness and stretched feeling by the time it was empty. This was the first time in my life that I ever took a full 4 quarts - something I'd occasionally been working at for some time now - and on a day when I wasn't even really trying for it. I don't know if I could have taken even more, but I didn't want to push it. A gallon is definitely enough for me, I thought the water would never stop coming out. I'm just hoping this wasn't a one-off and I can do it again some time.

@azdiane

Since you routinely fill beyond your colon into your small intestine, do you have any advice on how to practice to achieve that myself? I routinely take and hold large volumes, but only on a few rare occasions do I believe I've gotten the water into my small intestine. On those occasions, the sensations have been very strong, and although I wanted to continue filling, I stopped. I had no nausea or subsequent illness, I think it was more being too startled by the sensations to continue.

@k2mmw

"I have intentionally left the Illeocecal valve. open then put in about six or seven quarts. It all went out of my mouth and into the toilet."

How do you intentionally leave this valve open? It's not like a faucet you can turn on and turn off.

I have retained one gallon enemas for 15 to 20 minutes. After about 10 minutes I can feel a valve inside opening and the water pressure in me decreasing as it redistributes. But I don't know how to open or close it on demand.

@h2oqt7

Sorry to be so late in replying. As for advice, I think if you get your colon empty before trying to get up into your small intestine it will reduce the chance of creating nausea, or other unpleasantness. I usually take three 2q enemas before I go to the colon tube and try to get water really high. It's amazing how much smelly brown stuff comes out of your small intestine after your colon is empty. It may take three very high injections of water with the colon tube before the returns start getting really clear.

Massaging to "close the ileocecal valve" sounds like "colonic therapist or chiropractor speak" to me.

The valve is normally closed except for brief periods when chyme is flowing through.

It is interesting that there are ZERO articles in the National Library of Medicine/PubMed on what the lay google has called ileocecal valve syndrome.

Hi Diane,

Thanks for your response. I'm trying to get my enema frequency (# per week) back to what I used to do. I pretty quickly got my capacity back up to 5 quarts, but this week I've been able to increase to 6 quarts. This evening, even on the first fill, I held 6 pretty comfortably. I think it's a result of being more relaxed. I don't really think I'm getting past the ileocecal valve, but will keep working on it. There have been times in the past when I could hold noticeably more than 6 qts., and I think maybe then some was getting into my small intestine. I've probably only felt nausea during an enema on 2 or 3 occasions over many, many enemas.

As some may know, the illeocecal valve is at the end of the small bowel and at the start of the ascending colon in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen as positionally described by k2mmw. If you fill the colon to the point you feel really uncomfortable, and then massage the right lower quadrant while holding the enema, you frequently can get the valve to open, and the solution will continue to flow up into the small intestine. How far up is up for debate. Due to all the twists and turns of the ileum, probably not too far. I have never heard of any reliable evidence that anyone was able to introduce water anally and get flow into the more proximate regions of the jejunum or duodenum, let alone reach the stomach. Remember, there are about 26 feet of bowel in there, and there is not room in the abdomen to fill them all. I suspect a fold in the small bowel at some point keeps the water from flowing higher, and you get return of the pressure or pain from distension. There are fetishes associated with this practice, if anyone wants to know more. I am not aware that anyone can open or close the valve without manipulation. Radiologists sometimes used to massage the illeocecal valve open during retrograde barium enema, which has mostly been replaced by spiral CT. The food found at this level is usually a muddy slurry, before the colon removes the water, and quite obnoxious as one might expect. Also, solution and thin diarrhea may come down the colon for a while until the valve closes after expulsion of the colon portion of the enema, so expect further movements later in this kind of practice. k2mmw describes the procedure for opening, and perhaps closing the valve by massage....

PS. Due to length of the colon, a colon tube will never reach the valve, unless the tube is over 5 feet long, and then it just curls at a corner of the abdomen and comes back on itself. Although, anything is possible for a determined fetishist, I suppose! 😃

If the valve is open, it can cause illness marked by nausea and vomiting.

k2mmw: I've only experienced nausea and vomiting from an enema if it wasn't open during a large (5 quart+) enema.

It only happens during expulsion, however. I think it's the difference in pressures between the descending colon with part of the transverse and the ascending with the rest of the transverse that triggers the vomiting; considering, after the initial release, the end of the colon is nearly empty while the beginning is mostly full.

It all went out of my mouth and into the toilet.

I don't understand what you mean by this; I've taken 7 quarts on one occasion and it most certainly wasn't enough to push any solution near my esophagus.

do you have any advice on how to practice to achieve that myself?

h2oqt7: You can massage the area between the umbilicus and the right iliac crest if the colon is sufficiently full (about 4 quarts for me) or, it will open regardless if enough solution has been administered (~6.5 quarts I've found)

There are fetishes associated with this practice, if anyone wants to know more.

oneforfun: I'm not aware of any specific interest in this practice; you've piqued my curiosity.

I do not know if I ever had an enema enter my small intestine's ileum section. Don't know what that would feel like. I do take rather large enemas, but I don't ever experience nausea or vomiting. I can only relate to that kind of experience when I got food poisoning some 40+ years ago in New Orleans. I threw up everything... experienced dry heaves and eventually some awful smelling stuff that smelled like number 2. I was puny for several days and did not even want to look at food. If I ever experienced a feeling like that from an enema, I'd probably not want another one of them. Enemas, to me, make me feel loved and all gooey inside. A better example might be extremely warm and tingly. Again, I don't know what water entering the small intestine is supposed to feel like.

I do not know if I ever had an enema enter my small intestine's ileum section. Don't know what that would feel like. I do take rather large enemas, but I don't ever experience nausea or vomiting. . . . . . I don't know what water entering the small intestine is supposed to feel like.

After being thoroughly cleaned out using a closed colonic device, I wanted to take a regular enema to see what my water capacity is. After being filled to what turned out to be my usual capacity, I decided I wanted more. I added more water and all of a sudden felt a reduction in pressure with a whoosh in my colon on the right side with the ability to take more water. I decided I had pushed my ileocecal valve open and forced water into my ileum. I also decided NOT to do that again.

I don't believe I have ever had that experience, but...

...I added more water and all of a sudden felt a reduction in pressure with a whoosh in my colon on the right side with the ability to take more water. I decided I had pushed my ileocecal valve open and forced water into my ileum. I also decided NOT to do that again.

@SwitchableSusie, why did you decide not to do that again?

I routinely take 4 quarts and one single time I did 5 quarts, and I hold them for 30-60 minutes with rolling around and massage and mild exercise, standing and walking. I've never had the slightest feeling that anything changed or passed through my IC valve.

I added more water and all of a sudden felt a reduction in pressure with a whoosh in my colon on the right side with the ability to take more water.

That's what I really liked the feeling. I asked the trick to open it in this forum quite long time ago. At that moment, opening the valve seemed to be necessary for me to receive more than 5 liters. However, currently, it looks that 5 liters can be accepted in my large intestine alone. Aiming for above 5.5, I need a help of small intestine anyway.

Thank You Susie.... I guess that explains what its like to have my enema water flow into the small intestine through the illeocecal valve. If water has entered the small intestine why haven't I experienced nausea? Thanks again!

I wanted to take a regular enema to see what my water capacity is. After being filled to what turned out to be my usual capacity, I decided I wanted more. I added more water and all of a sudden felt a reduction in pressure with a whoosh in my colon on the right side with the ability to take more water.

Susie: What's your usual capacity? How much did you take in total during the incident?

And to second Doctorh3e's question, why did you decide against repeating it?

If water has entered the small intestine why haven't I experienced nausea?

Milker: Why would you?

I definitely do not want to experience nausea. I love the feeling that enemas give me, but like I say ... no throw ups and definitely no nausea. That would make a great enema a horrible one!

@#Eknar said

Susie: What's your usual capacity? How much did you take in total during the incident?

why did you decide against repeating it?

My usual pleasurable volume is 2.5 quarts, on rare instances, three quarts. I would say my very uncomfortable capacity is 3.5 quarts, which I have done two or three times in my life and I thought I was going to explode. The time I believe I forced my ileocecal valve open I took 3.5 quarts and then one more pint after the pressure relief, for a total of 4 quarts. I decided not to do it again because there is no reason to put that kind of stress on my GI tract and I didn't want to have an ER visit if anything went wrong. Trying to force it open again or going for more volume would just be plain stupid.

In very nearly 75 years of enemas, I do not think I have ever forced water past the ileocecal valve. Given the age of my "equipment", I see no reason to test its resilience now! In those years, I have made only two trips to the ER, both being for socially acceptable injuries. I am not anxious to go for a reason that would be frowned upon once my vanilla friends found out.

@SwitchableSusie: I decided not to do it again because there is no reason to put that kind of stress on my GI tract and I didn't want to have an ER visit if anything went wrong. Trying to force it open again or going for more volume would just be plain stupid.

Yes, most wise in the Covid19 times - no way would I want an emergency visit to my local hospital which has cancelled all elective surgery.

Yes, most wise in the Covid19 times - no way would want an emergency visit my local hospital which as cancelled all elective surgery.

I actually did that about ten years ago.

It would be very bad to try that in these times.

Actually repairing ruptured colon is emergency surgery because you would get peritonitis and die.

There's a lot of mistaken anatomy understanding here the valve looks and acts just like outer vagina lips or flaps it is not a heart valve one way only, it is easy to open and you can not hurt or break it or turn it inside out. its not a real pressure one way. outer vagina flaps keep closed but as we all know they can be opened in a variety of ways!

Sounds DANGEROUS!!

The iliocecal valve is a one-way valve.

Like a check valve in a pipe.

It IS possible to put too much reverse pressure on any check valve. Including the little rubber flap in the nozzle of a Fleet enema.

In that case you will “blow” the valve and that valve, if it ever does work again will ALWAYS leak! The safe way is to replace the check valve.

The iliocecal valve evolved where it did and the way it did for some very good reasons.

Essentially to protect the digesting food from the poop.

YOU DO NOT WANT TO BLOW YOUR ILIOCECAL VALVE!

I realize it is difficult and not really comfortable to clear the entire digestive tract, and the part that makes it hard is the small intestine.

The RIGHT way to clear yourself is:

Clear the stomach by FASTING!! I know it's difficult but its the best and safest way to clear the stomach.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SH0OULD YOU EVER FORCE YOURSELF TO VOMIT!! It's dangerous and each round empties no more than about ⅔ in the ideal case of what's there, usually closer to half.

The large intestine can be cleared by enemas, or by a high dose of a stimulant laxative like bisacodyl or if you really want to be sure, by BOTH!

That brings us to the problem of the small intestine.

The stomach will release part of it's contents into the small intestine about every 15 minutes. The small intestine will release part of it's content into the large intestine at the same interval but almost never in sync!

The process slows down but does not stop as the stomach empties

The best way to clear the small intestine is with one of the liquid oral laxatives. Magnesium Citrate is an option. High doses of Miralax taken over 3-4 hours is another option.

I have even heard of people having success with high doses of Milk of Magnesia taken between rounds of enemas!

That is one of the big DON'Ts of enema use.

NEVER 'blow your iliocecial valve. The damage can be permanent and can lead to all manner of problems!!

I know it's been awhile since this post has been commented on, but I do want to share my experience with this. I have had this happen twice and not intentional…purely by situation. First was when I was in my 20's and tried to see how much I could take from 2 - 2qrt bags. I was on the floor laying on my left side and the 1st bag emptied. I switched to the 2nd bag and as it got to the bottom I felt a pop in my mid abdomen and having no clue what it was. All I know was that I felt the pressure of the almost 4qrts just dissipate and I kinda freaked a little bit. In my mind, I was thinking I popped a whole somewhere and it was leaking out. Thank god that was not it…but after researching it at the time, I figured out I had popped my ileocecal valve. I had cleaned out prior to that happening and thankfully had no recourse of that happening other than the thought…hmmm…I bet I could get another bag in me. :-)

I did have it happen later in life while at a friends house and he was filling me up. I was on a gyno chair that was used for deliveries and it had a power recline to lay you back. I had control of that and tilting back and forth opened it up again….no issues with it that time either thankfully…but it is a unique feeling.

Vers intéressant tk

Like others have said - I think your asking for trouble when/if you do this - intentionally or not. Feces was not meant to go back up your small intestine or stomach. Many have written about very high volume enemas that back up through the stomach and cause some exiting through the mouth with no ill effects - perhaps they were just lucky!!!